2017 in golf: Sergio wins, Tiger returns and Thomas arrives

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Photos:Golf: A year in review 2017

Tiger Woods missed most of 2017 through injury but made a promising comeback at the Hero World Challenge in early December.

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Photos:Golf: A year in review 2017

Sergio Garcia won the first major of the year at the Augusta National. The triumph was the Spaniard's first in a major tournament.

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Photos:Golf: A year in review 2017

Brooks Koepka picked up the US Open trophy after triumphing at Erin Hills in Hartford, Wisconsin.

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Photos:Golf: A year in review 2017

Jordan Spieth battled back over the final few holes at Royal Birkdale to win the Open Championship for the first time.

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Photos:Golf: A year in review 2017

Justin Thomas made it three majors out of four for US male players in 2017 when he claimed the US PGA crown in August. Thomas would go on to win the FedEx Cup in September.

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Photos:Golf: A year in review 2017

Lexi Thompson cries into a towel during the final round of the ANA Inspiration at the Mission Hills Country Club. The American was on course to win her second major but was denied after a TV viewer spotted she had erred when replacing her ball during her third round. That error would result in a costly four-shot penalty that enabled South Korea's So Yeon Ryu to go on to win.

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Photos:Golf: A year in review 2017

Shanshan Feng became the first Chinese golfer to top the world rankings when she hit the No. 1 spot in November.

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Photos:Golf: A year in review 2017

Lydia Ko has known little but success throughout her young career. That changed in 2017, however, with the New Zealander unable to pick up any tournament wins.

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Photos:Golf: A year in review 2017

Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy had a frustrating 2017 and was forced to sit out much of the season through injury.

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Photos:Golf: A year in review 2017

Members at Muirfield Golf Club near Edinburgh, an Open Championship venue, voted to admit female members in 2017 for the first time in its 273-year history.

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Photos:Golf: A year in review 2017

2017 was a record breaking year for South Africa's Branden Grace. He shot a 62 during his third round at the Open Championship in July, becoming the first player to card a score under 63 shots in a major.

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(CNN)Jordan Spieth was back in the majors, a Chinese player became World No.1 for the first time and Tiger Woods gave a tantalizing hint that he could be about to challenge for the big prizes once more.

The 2017 year in golf provided some fantastic story lines, offered up a smattering of new stars and saw some surprising major winners.

One of the sport's most famous and storied clubs even opened its doors to female members for the first time.

As 2017 draws to a close, here's a look back at some of the moments that defined the past 12 months in golf.

Tiger out of the cage?

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Has one of final moments of the 2017 season given fans a hint at what may be in store for 2018?

Tiger Woods made his latest comeback at the Hero World Challenge in early December and finished with a respectable eight-under-par to tie for ninth position.

Woods played the same tournament last year but then pulled out of a series of events at the start of 2017 due to injury.

A back operation in April kept him sidelined until his return earlier this month while he pleaded guilty to a charge of reckless driving in October.

"I'm not an emotional person but to see the Chinese flag on top of the #rolexrankings makes feel all my 18 years' efforts (in) this sport (have) paid off," the delighted Feng wrote in an Instagram post after the rankings were confirmed.

Staying there won't be easy, however.

A sustained challenge is likely from Lydia Ko, Lexi Thompson, Sung Hyun Park, So Yeon Ryu and others in 2018.